Age can have a major affect on the overall quality of your vision. For instance, as people get older, they are more prone to developing cataracts. There is one vision problem in particular that can have a very negative impact on the overall quality of your vision. It’s known as presbyopia. You may not have heard of it before, but many individuals who are age 45 or older will develop it. We’d like to go over the basics of presbyopia right now. To learn more about presbyopia, it’s important that you meet with a Chicago cornea surgeon.
What is presbyopia?
Presbyopia refers to a vision condition in which it becomes difficult to see objects that are up close. Presbyopia is different from traditional refractive error, however, such as severe myopia (nearsightedness) or farsightedness (hyperopia). When you meet with our ophthalmologists and optometrists serving Chicago, they will let you the exact nature of your vision problem and how it can best be treated.
Causes of Presbyopia
Presbyopia is caused by a loss in flexibility in the lens of your eye. When the lens is unable to flex or bend accordingly, vision is adversely affected. Problems with the muscles that control the lens of the eye can also result in presbyopa.
Signs and Symptoms of Presbyopia
The most common symptom of presbyopia is the sudden onset of farsightedness, meaning that your near vision will be blurry while your distance vision will be clearer by comparison. Since presbyopia commonly occurs in people who are middle aged and older, this is something you should pay particular attention to as you age.
Treatments for Presbyopia
There are multiple treatments available for presbyopia, restoring the quality of your vision and improving your overall ability to see.
One option is known as monovision LASIK. This Chicago LASIK surgery option differs from a traditional LASIK procedure. During monovision LASIK, one eye is corrected for near vision while the other is uncorrected. Patients will need to wear corrective lenses after undergoing monovision LASIK.
Another option to consider is phakic intraocular lenses (IOLs). This will involve the removal of the natural lens of the eye so that it can be replaced by an artificial lens. Multifocal IOLS and monofocal IOLs are available. Multifocal lenses will accommodate for both near vision and distance vision while monofocal lenses are designed for only one distance.
If surgical treatments are not an ideal option for patients, corrective lenses offer good results. Patients can wear bifocals, carry a pair of reading glasses, or even carry two pairs of glasses (one for distance vision and the other for near vision). During your consultation, we’ll go over all of these matters in full detail and help you make the best decision based on your eye health needs.
Schedule a Consultation for Advanced Eye Care Treatment
For more information about presbyopia and how it can be treated, make sure to contact our Chicago refractive surgery and eye care center as soon as possible. We will help ensure that your vision remains clear and your eyes remain healthy for years to come.
